Travel is not just for the wealthy, but for anyone willing to step outside their immediate bubble for a period of time—and 2015 was quite the year for it. From 35,000 feet in the air to 2,700 miles across the United States, we recap some of the moments, movements, facts, and figures that have inspired us to be better travelers in 2016.

FACING DARKNESS IN THE CITY OF LIGHT

Despite the November attacks on Paris that left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded, the capital city has refused to be bullied into fear. In the wake of the attacks, cities around the world lit up in solidarity, and in defiance, the French celebrated the very things they were attacked for, giving all the more reason why now—more than ever—you should go to Paris.

At this moment, on all fronts, Australia is simply—as the kids say—crushing it. Its food culture is as inventive and influential as any today, with marquee chefs beating paths here (g'day, René Redzepi!). The country's style quotient is on a similar trajectory—just ask Sydney tastemakers like Sibella Court, Maurice Terzini, Justin Hemmes, and Megan Morton. And there will always be its natural beauts—The Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, the winelands of Victoria—while Tasmania and Perth call us to explore the country's farther reaches. Do yourself a favor and get down here as soon as you can; we’re officially calling 2016 the Year of Australia. —Peter J. Lindberg

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Long overshadowed by its Indian and Maldivian neighbors, this tropical island remains affordable, uncrowded, and relatively unexplored. Colombo, the country's seaside capital, is undergoing a cosmopolitan upgrade, while Galle on the southwestern shore just welcomed a new luxury design hotel, Tri Lanka. If that weren't enough, the island's timeless ruins and endless stretches of surf beckon. —Katherine LaGrave

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Is Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago the unexpected honeymoon destination of 2016? "I have several friends headed that way," says contributing editor Mark Ellwood, aiming for the main city of Vilankulo and the cluster of six islands—known for their snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife spotting—in the Indian Ocean.

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Tourism to the country is already on a meteoric rise—and the political situation seems to be improving by the day—meaning Myanmar is once again a trending destination. Beyond the essentials—Bagan, Inle Lake, the Shwedagon Pagoda—the little-visited Mergui Archipelago should catch travelers’ attention this year, thanks to a growing roster of sailing trips that visit the islands, like those from Burma Boating or Intrepid Travel. While the untrammeled nature of the region is among its top draws, don’t expect it to stay that way for long as travelers realize it’s just a short hop from uber-popular Phuket, Thailand. —Paul Brady

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Azul, the Brazilian airline started by David Neeleman (of JetBlue fame), is now making it easier for U.S. travelers not just to get to Brazil, but to see more of the sprawling country. The carrier rolled out an Azul Brazil Airpass this summer, good for 10 days of unlimited flights throughout Brazil for $299 (or 21 days version for $399). Perfect timing: With the Olympics headed to Rio in August, Brazil is about to play host to citizens of the world for the second time in three years—it’s a global phenomenon you won’t want to miss. —CNT Editors

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If you’re headed all the way to Brazil, you might as well make a proper trip of it: Extend your stay with a stopover in Ecuador, where Quito’s Old Town is both a UNESCO World Heritage site and a bit of Florence, Italy, with spectacularly gilded churches and cobbled streets. Spend a weekend before flying to Coxa to start your Amazon adventure. Brazil may claim more than half of the world’s largest rainforest, but Ecuador’s stretch is equally accessible—and impressive. Tours led by Napo Wildlife Center take you deep into the jungle, where spiders are the size of your fist and caiman eyes glow red at night as your canoe glides silently, cautiously past. —Laura Dannen Redman

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On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service will celebrate its centennial. That’s 100 years spent protecting awe-inspiring Alaskan glaciers, spectacularly craggy Maine coastlines, and geothermal wonders in Wyoming. Whether you've always wanted to see the Grand Canyon (and you absolutely should—the hype is well-placed) or want to re-enact Star Wars without leaving the country (hello, Great Sand Dunes National Park), now is the time to get out there and experience America's unrivaled great outdoors. —Jayna Maleri

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You could drive two hours in any direction from Madrid and come upon an enchanting medieval village—and while we love Toledo and Salamanca, we're headed next to Pedraza, north of the capital city, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Here, you'll find fortresses and buildings dating back to the 1500s, centuries-old cobblestone streets that are awash in candlelight during summer nights, and epic roast lamb lunches that have made the town famous. —Maura Kutner Walters

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You’ve no doubt already seen the photos creeping into your Instagram feed: Your friends floating through the steamy, aquamarine waters of the Blue Lagoon or cozying up to an impossibly adorable horse amid a landscape that could only look more lunar if a spaceship was parked nearby. Due to its relative accessibility (a four-hour flight from NYC!), growing culinary scene, and those photo-worthy moments, Iceland has risen to the top of everyone’s travel list. Seriously, everyone: Half a dozen people in our office went there last year alone. You’re running out of time to visit Iceland before it becomes Tulum North—but it’s still possible to drive out into the middle of nowhere and feel spectacularly alone beneath the Northern Lights. Book your trip now, before that ability goes up in steam, er, smoke. —Jayna Maleri

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“Largely because of concerns about Ebola and terrorism, tourism to East Africa suffered significantly in early 2015—down 25 to 45 percent at many lodges, despite the fact that there’s never been a documented case of Ebola in East Africa,” wrote editor in chief Pilar Guzmán in February. “If tourism revenue continues to decline, conservation efforts will be cash-strapped. And should this happen, many believe that the future of wildlife—including elephants, rhinos, and lions—will be severely threatened as foreign interests with an eye on ivory, horn, and hide buy up protected land and encourage poaching. This is what bumped Africa to the top of my list this year.” Consider following in her footsteps with a trip to Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park—a Serengeti safari is one you likely won’t forget.

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Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city, used to be known for its drug trade and astronomical murder rate. No more. Now one of the most livable cities in South America, this city of three million might be the greatest urban comeback story of our generation. To spend the perfect weekend, check into the Charlee Hotel in the city’s posh El Poblan district, stroll through the 35-acre Jardin Botánico, and recharge like a local at Restaurante Los Toldos. —Chaney Kwak

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As we say in our office, Miami is having “a moment.” There’s been explosive growth in its hotel scene, with Ian Schrager’s The Miami Beach Edition turning Mid-Beach into a new destination—for those looking to dine early (at Jean-Georges outpost the Matador Room) and party late (at the Basement, a nightclub-bowling alley-ice skating rink). The Wynwood Art District feels like a daily celebration of Art Basel, and the Design District is a new high-end retail haven for all your Hermès-and-Tom-Ford needs. We’re all going to Miami next year—so should you. —CNT Editors

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Okinawa and its islands aren't "just a scattered, reggae-sweetened necklace of islands closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo, but one that actively seeks to turn Japanese congestion, industry, and formality on their heads," Pico Iyer wrote in Traveler's December issue. They're also blissfully free of crowds, known mostly to locals. The Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa are "sun-splashed, laid-back, and a bit rough around the edges," while Tokashiki Island, sitting at approximately 26 degrees latitude north, shares the same temperate, Caribbean climate as the Bahamas. Head to Aharen Beach (pictured) for swimming and snorkeling. —K.L.

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These French Caribbean islands are like a bit of tropical Europe, now easier for Americans to access than ever, thanks to new direct routes from Baltimore, New York, and Boston on low-cost carrier Norwegian Air. Once you arrive, be on the lookout for the perfect mix of island cool and French chic: swimming under waterfalls, hiking through the jungle, and toasting the sunset with Burgundy sent directly from the motherland. —Lilit Marcus

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Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque will be even easier to reach this May when Turkish Airlines launches its new nonstop flights from Atlanta, on the heels of its nine-month-old daily flight out of San Francisco. In March, April, and May (Istanbul’s shoulder season), crowds are thinner than in the peak summer months, and temperatures hover at a mild 60 degrees. Whether you’re visiting the Asian shore—known for its quiet green spaces, the historic Mihrimah Sultan mosque (which is open to visitors), and street markets selling Turkish antiques and sweets—or the European side, where you’ll find the majority of the tourist sights, including the Grand Bazaar, as well as emerging design districts like Fener and Balat, it’s the smartest time to go. —CNT Editors

HEROES IN FLIGHT

Travel forces us to adapt, change, and oftentimes, be uncomfortable, which is why it can sometimes bring out the worst in us: it’s all too easy to be cranky at someone (or something) that’s disrupted your rose-tinted retreat. And while wars over reclined seats will probably never cease, these in-flight acts of kindness showed us how much better it is when people stay positive, recognize a traveler in need of a hand, and share some sweets.

PEDAL POWER

Hopping on a stationary bike at the gym can be hard enough, but quitting your job, hopping on a Citi Bike, and riding from coast to coast? That takes some serious commitment. Enter Jeffrey Tanenhaus, who decided that now was just as good a time as any to take the trip of a lifetime: On August 6, Tanenhaus left Manhattan’s East Village and began pedaling across the country with the goal of making it to California. Just before Christmas, Tanenhaus reached the Golden State after having pedaled some 2,700 miles.

SCARY STATISTICS

In an odd way, negativity can sometimes be inspiring. Not yet convinced? Read on: Despite their wanderlust, roughly 51 percent of Americans didn’t take a single vacation day in 2014, and that they accumulated some 429 million unused paid days off in 2014. That amounts to about $52.4 billion in paid benefits—wasted. If these cold, hard facts don’t provide a swift kick in the rear for you to get out there, then just know that there are some pets out there traveling more (and better) than you are.